Nova Scotia Energy Minister Marco MacLeod has stepped down from the position over several songs he published online in 2013 with “hurtful lyrics,” according to Premier Tim Houston. MacLeod, who took over the energy portfolio from Houston in May, came under heavy criticism for rap songs he posted under the name Meadowville. “It was a song about Charlie Sheen and it had really hurt hurtful words in it towards women,” MacLeod previously told CTV News Atlantic. “And I didn’t have those values then and now. But guess what? I still used those words, and they’re still hurtful. That’s my mistake.” Adsum for Women & Children, an emergency shelter organization, said they were “sickened by MacLeod’s lyrics, calling them misogynistic. In mid-August, MacLeod, 37, apologized for the songs and said he would stay on as energy minister, but Houston said he accepted MacLeod’s resignation from the position on Wednesday evening. “Marco has expressed to me his regret for publishing those songs,” Houston said in a news release. “Ultimately, he feels his actions have become a distraction from the work of our government, and he wants to spend more time focusing on learning and growing. “I thank Marco for the work he has given to the Province in his role as minister of Energy.” Houston, who served as energy minister for seven months before MacLeod, said he will now step back into the role. MacLeod represents the Pictou West riding and will stay on as an MLA. With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
